The 12-member jury found Fair guilty of the Jan. 13, 2004, slaying of 18-year-old DeWayne Knowlin, near the Nelton Court housing complex.

``We got justice today. I'm proud of the verdict. But it doesn't bring my son back, but he can finally rest in peace,'' said Jerome Shropshire, Knowlin's father. ``I hope this sends a message to all these kids who pick up guns and take people's lives.''

Knowlin's friend, Joshua Mims, told the jury they made purchases at a food truck and were walking up Nelson Street when he spotted a man, wearing a football helmet and wearing false dreadlocks, walking toward them.

As the man cut across a dirt area toward the sidewalk where they were walking, said Mims, he heard someone in a crowd behind the man say, ``What's up Buddha?'' And, then a voice saying, ``No that's Blint.''

Mims said the man pulled out a black revolver, then pushed it part way back in his right pocket before quickly pulling it out again and firing twice. He had already retreated a short way behind a car, said Mims, when a bullet went past his head.

Knowlin was walking behind him, said Mims, so he grabbed him and they ran until they hopped a fence. It was then, said Mims, that Knowlin told him he had been shot. Holding onto Knowlin, Mims said, he continued to flee until Knowlin became too heavy. So, Mims said, he laid Knowlin on the pavement and ran to a friend's home to have him call police.

Asked by Assistant State's Attorney Chris Pelosi to identify the gunman, Mims pointed to Fair, who was sitting at the defense table. Although it was dark and the helmet covered portions of Fair's face, he could identify him as the gunman, Mims said. And Mims said a marijuana cigar he had smoked four hours earlier did not affect his hearing or power of observation.

Knowlin was shot in the chest about a block from his home on Nelson Street, and fled another block before falling on Clay Street. Medical technicians took him to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.